Woman, 74, struck by bullet fragment during New Year's gunfire

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - More than 90 incidents of celebratory New Year gunfire were reported in areas patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, resulting in a minor injury and slight damage to a car, authorities said today.

A 74-year-old woman was sitting in her den in the 15000 block of Clymar Avenue in an unincorporated section of Los Angeles County when she heard glass breaking at 12:03 a.m. Tuesday and a bullet fragment struck her foot, said Lt. Jimmy Rios of the sheriff's Compton Station. The fragment did not break the skin, and the woman declined treatment, he said.

In Compton, a woman sitting in her car in the 300 block of West Arbutus Street heard gunshots at 12:10 a.m. Tuesday, just before something struck her bumper, Sgt. Bryan Haynes of the Compton Station reported. A bullet fragment was recovered near her vehicle, he said.

Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to contact detectives at the Compton Station at (310) 605-6500. To remain anonymous, tipsters cans call LA CrimeStoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or access the site at http://lacrimestoppers.org.

In the city of Los Angeles, there appears to have been a decline in celebratory gunfire compared to previous years.

Still, it sounded like "a war zone" outside the building at the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Street Station in South Los Angeles, said Officer Roger Aguirre. Officers caught two of the shooters, he said.

There were no arrests in the neighboring area patrolled by the LAPD's Southeast Station, said Sgt. James Linder.

"There were not as many gunshots as years past, but ironically we found a bullet in the station parking lot as a reminder that they're still around," Linder said.

The Northeast Station, including Echo Park, Griffith Park and Mount Washington, also reported no arrests, and Sgt. Teresa Anderson said the celebratory gunfire was "not as bad as in the past."